Tuesday Tip

Paint your faux brass fireplace doors with this:

I've kept this can for touch-ups. so far, none needed!

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, after not wanting to to part with $$$ to get new doors, that would not have been anything special, I was cruising the paint isle one summer day at one of the big box stores (can't recall which one, it was over 2 years ago) I saw an entire display dedicated to fixing the paint on your outdoor grill. Cue up the aura light from above, it was a total light bulb moment! I figured if this paint is for high heat useage and can survive the elements (most grills get left outside-right?) it just might the answer to rid myself, for all eternity, of my dated fireplace doors.

It comes in spray too, but get the can so it can be brushed on. My husband did a very light sanding to give the metal trim some tooth and the paint went on easy. We use our fireplace from early fall to early spring. It's gas, but puts out some serious heat and after 2 seasons with no problems, the library fireplace doors eventually shed their brass doors too!

My only regret? That we didn't figure this out sooner. Then, I wouldn't have so many photos year-after-year of my children (looking so adorable at  Christmastime) with the big round smudge in their pictures from tree lights or the camera flash bouncing off those ugly doors as they posed by the hearth!!!

As for painting the brick, (see yesterday's post) that was super easy too according to my husband. Here is what he did:

• Clean the brick with a vacuum or stiff brush if necessary.
• If you have wood burning, I'd call your chimney sweep and see what they say, but you're probably going to need soap and water and maybe TSP if there is soot build-up.
• Use a quality primer such as Kilz or Zinsser (we used the latter) Roll it on, then go back with a brush to get the mortar joints.
• Use a quality paint. We used Benjamin Moore's black in semi-gloss. Use the same process as you did with the primer.

The bonus of the painted brick is not only aesthetics, it's so much easier to clean. I usually just use my Swiffer or a soft rag!